Rome, Italy. Sixteen-year-old Nikola Savic won three gold medals at the International STEM Olympiad Grand Final, taking top honours in mathematics, science, and technology and engineering.
The competition was held in Rome from July 2 to 8 and brought together 1,154 finalists and guests from 54 countries.
International competition
More than 38,000 students from 153 countries participated across all stages of the Olympiad. Savic raised the flag of the Republic of Cyprus on the podium after his victories.
He celebrated his 16th birthday on the opening day of the event, adding the three medals to a collection of more than 30 international gold medals.
Preparation and education
Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, Savic described the experience as “unforgettable”.
“I respected the level of the competition, but I arrived in Rome with great confidence and a strong belief in my own abilities,” he said.
Savic said his results reflected years of preparation, continuous study and participation in international competitions.
“Olympiads require a huge investment of time and discipline, but the feeling of standing on the winners’ podium after all that effort cannot be measured,” he said.
Alongside his competition commitments, Savic attends the American Academy Larnaca and the MGIMO Gorchakov Lyceum.
STEM education in Cyprus
Savic said there were schools in Cyprus that made efforts to organise and promote competitions, but added that student initiative was also important.
“I firmly believe there are young people in Cyprus who can help raise the country’s standing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” he said. “My message is not to wait until you feel completely ready or until someone else creates an opportunity for you.”
